Slopestyle snowboarding made its Olympic debut at the 2014 Olympics, and big air snowboarding will make its first Olympic appearance in the 2018 PyeongChang Games. Chris Corning of Colorado could swipe a medal in both events.
The 18-year-old — who’s been a member of the Snowboarders and Skiers for Christ (SFC) chapters in Colorado, a group with the goal of being “the light of Jesus to the snowriding culture” — makes his Olympic debut Friday night (U.S. time; PyeongChang is 14 hours ahead of Eastern Time) with qualifying in slopestyle. Those advancing to the final will compete again on Saturday.
Corning was the 2016 FIS World Cup slopestyle champion and the 2017 World Championship slopestyle bronze medalist, so he’s among the favorites to land on the podium in PyeongChang. Should he claim gold, he’d be the second American man to do so. Sage Kotsenburg of the U.S. won the inaugural men’s slopestyle gold medal in 2014, but has since retired from the sport.
The men’s big air competition will get underway Feb. 20 (U.S. time). Corning was the 2017 Worlds big air silver medalist, and earlier this season won the big air World Cup even in Milan, Italy:
Related links:
– Christian Olympians to watch at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games
